F.No.AB-14017/14/2016-Estt.(RR)(Pt.)Government of IndiaMinistry of Personnel, Public Grievances and PensionsDepartment of Personnel and TrainingNorth Block, New Delhi

Dated the 20th February, 2018

MEETING NOTICE

Subject: Recommendations of 7th CPC with regard to EDP Cadre — reg.

The undersigned is directed to refer to this Department OM of even number dated 17.10.2016 and subsequent reminders dated 30.11.2017 on the above mentioned subject wherein Ministries/Departments were requested to furnish information on the following points:-

(i) Whether EDP cadre is existing, if yes, the hierarchy and the strength in each grade/level thereof;

(ii) Copy of the existing Recruitment Rules for all the levels;

(iii) Suggestions, if any, regarding the cadre re-structuring in the cadre;

(iv) Comments on the recommendations of 7 thCPC.

2. Even after lapse of a considerable period information has been received from very few Ministries/Departments. Therefore, it has been decided to hold a meeting with all Ministries/Departments under the Chairmanship of Sh. G. D. Tripathi, Joint Secretary (E), DOP&T in Room No. 190, North Block, New Delhi on 27.02.2018 at 3.00 PM to discuss the issue relating to the recommendations of the 6 thCPC on the issue of Electronics Data Processing (EDP) Staff and the way forward on the same. Ministries/Departments are requested to depute an officer of appropriate rank who is well conversant with the subject matter to attend the meeting. It is also requested that information on the above points may also be brought if the same has already been not forwarded to DOP&T so far. A copy of the extract of the recommendation of the 7 thCPC is also enclosed.

a) Before granting such House Building Advance. the Head of the Department

i) Should satisfy himself that the home loans were taken by the government employee entirely for purpose of construction / purchase of new house/ flat.

ii) Should ensure that the House Building Advance sanctioned is to tie amount of loan still due to be repaid by the government employee

b) House Building Advance can be availed towards repayment of bank loan taken for the purpose of construction/ purchase of new house/ flat.

C) Employee shall be eligible for grant Of House Building Advance on the date she obtained loans from banks and other financial institutions, irrespective of whether they applied for House Building Advance before raising he loan.

d) House Building Advance fry repayment of loans Shall be granted to the Eligible employees in one lump sum. However, the Government employee shall produce the HBA Utilisation Certificate within one month the date of release of HBA

e) Employee has to satisfy tie other provisions of the House Building Advance Rules -2017.

While the central government has decided to keep the salary of mid and senior level central government employees unchanged, it is considering a proposal to raise the salary of all central government employees whose pay falls within pay matrix level 5.

“The government is considering a proposal to raise the salary of all central government employees up to pay matrix level 5, beyond the 7th Pay Commission’s recommendation,” said a senior official in the finance ministry on the condition of anonymity.

A one-day Conference on ‘Quality Initiatives in Technical Education’ was organized by All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE) here today. Union Minister for Human Resource Development Shri Prakash Javadekar was the Chief Guest on the occasion. Minister of State for HRD Dr. Satya Pal Singh also graced the occasion. The objective of the conference was to share experiences of Vice Chancellors, leading academicians and eminent policy makers from State Governments & Central Government and exchange ideas on issues and challenges in technical education. The valuable inputs from luminaries will help in strategic planning and effective implementation of various policy initiatives taken by AICTE.

The participants of the conference included Vice Chancellors of Technical Universities, Deemed Universities and Private Universities, Secretaries and Directors of Technical Education of State Governments, leading academicians, eminent experts who have developed the model curriculum for Undergraduate, Post Graduate engineering and Management disciplines. The senior officials of Ministry of Human Resource Development, University Grants Commission etc. also participated in the conference and shared their views.

In order to meet challenges in technical education and effective implementation of various policy initiatives taken by AICTE, the participants were divided into four groups:

Group I : Adoption of Model Curriculum

Group II : Modalities of Summer Internship

Group III: Teachers Orientation and Teacher Training

Group IV : Teaching Learning Processes :New Pedagogy (SWAYAM) –

The Groups discussed and deliberated upon the theme and devised an action plan for implementation of the above initiatives.

Speaking on the occasion Shri Javadekar said that the higher education in India especially technical education has witnessed an exponential growth in last few years. He added that quality education is the only way to progress and we have taken various initiatives to give impetus to the growth of quality education. The minister said that existing syllabus has been revamped by preparing a model curriculum as an updated curriculum is the students’ right. He further added that the inclusion of mandatory internship, both industry and social, will help engineering graduates connect with the need of the industry and society at large.

He said the government is committed to provide best teachers, best infrastructure and best scholarships to all the students. He also advised that the teachers must have passion to teach and they should follow a comprehensive design of quality practice.

While addressing the conference Minister of State for Human Resource Development Shri Satyapal Singh said that providing quality education is our top priority as it will add value to students and society. He added that the aim of life should not be materialistic and one must learn the traditional values and our cultural ethos. He further suggested that lessons about happiness should be a part of the curriculum as students are pressurized due to tough competition. Shri Singh applauded the leadership of Union HRD Minister Shri Prakash Javadekar for taking transforming decisions in the ministry. He also congratulated the AICTE team for developing the model curriculum.

Prof. Anil D. Sahasrabudhe, Chairman, AICTE, explained the various quality initiatives taken by AICTE including the Model Curriculum for UG & PG Courses in Engineering and Management, Induction Programme for Engineering Students, Industry readiness and Mandatory Internships for Students, start-ups and innovation etc. He informed that AICTE constituted subject-wise heads of the committees from IITs with respective team of 2-3 academic experts along with industry expert to develop the model curriculum of undergraduate engineering courses and faculty Induction program. He also mentioned that a three-week mandatory induction program for students has been introduced in the first year which will help the students to adjust in the new environment as they come with diverse thoughts, backgrounds and preparations. A novel concept of Virtual Laboratories has also been introduced in the model curriculum. A range of credits from 150 to 160 has been kept for a student to be eligible to get Under Graduate degree in Engineering. A student will be eligible to get Under Graduate degree with Honours or additional Minor Engineering, if he/she completes an additional 20 credits. These could be acquired through MOOCs. Similarly, model curriculum for Post Graduate courses in engineering shall have 68 credits. Model curriculum of 18 Post Graduate specializations was launched.

He further informed that the minimum number of credits for award of MBA/ PGDM course is 102 credits. The Chairman further emphasized that AICTE will ensure revision of the model curriculum on regular basis. Updation will certainly help students to achieve better employability, start-ups and other avenues for higher studies. The institutions/ universities in India are requested to adopt this “Model Curriculum” and depending on local needs may tweak the curriculum.

Prof. M.P. Poonia, Vice Chairman, AICTE, Prof. A.P. Mittal, Member Secretary, AICTE and Prof. Rajiv Kumar, Adviser-I, AICTE and other senior officials from the ministry were also present on the occasion.

Government is planning to abolish the system of formation of Pay Commission in future?

Central Government replied that there is no such proposal at present under consideration.

In Lok Sabha on 5th January 2018, A Hon’ble member asked some questions about the Pay Commission and DA Merger as follows…

(a) whether the National Anomaly Committee (NAC) under the 7th Central Pay Commission has submitted its interim report, if so, the details thereof;(b) whether the Government is planning to abolish the system of formation of Pay Commission in future, if so, the details thereof and the reasons therefor;(c) whether the Government is considering to adjust the salaries of its employees and pensioners Dearness Allowance (DA) that crosses the 50 per cent mark, if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor; and(d) whether the Department of Expenditure planning to take the responsibility to regularly monitor salaries and allowances of central government employees and recommend the changes if needed, if so, the details thereof and the reasons therefor?

The Minister of State for Finance Shri P.Radhakrishnan replied that the National Anomaly Committee set up by the Department of Personnel & Training in August, 2016 following the decision of the Government on the recommendations of the 7th Central Pay Commission has not yet met.

Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances & PensionsAnomalies in implementation of 6th CPC

A National Anomaly Committee, comprising 8 members from the Official-Side and 12 members from the Staff-Side was set up to settle the anomalies arising out of the implementation of the recommendations of the 6th Central Pay Commission.

There were five (5) meetings of the National Anomaly Committee where 55 anomalies were settled out of total 59 anomalies which were raised. The remaining 4 anomalies are pending finalisation.

A National Anomaly Committee comprising 9 members from the Official-Side and 13 members from the Staff-Side has been constituted to discuss the anomalies arising out of the implementation of the recommendations of the 7th Central Pay Commission. An agenda consisting of 18 items has been received from the Staff-Side for discussion which is under examination for convening the first meeting of the Committee.

This was stated by the Minister of State (Independent Charge) of the Ministry of Development of North Eastern Region (DoNER), MoS PMO, Personnel, Public Grievances & Pensions, Atomic Energy and Space, Dr. Jitendra Singh in a written reply to question in the Rajya Sabha today.

No Downgradation in the existing equivalence of the service ranks in Defence Service Personnel

Rank Parity

The Government is fully sensitive to the concerns expressed by the Armed Forces from time to time, including those relating to rank equation, allowances and benefits. The Government has already clarified that there has been no downgradation or change in the existing equivalence of the service ranks vis-à-vis their civilian counterparts.

In recognition of the unique aspects of Defence Service, a number of facilities and benefits in cash and kind are admissible to Defence Service personnel, including tax concessions available in Canteen Stores Depot, concession vouchers for travel in Railways and by Air, apart from compensation granted by way of various allowances for unique risks and hardships borne by the Defence personnel. A list of 28 risk and hardship related allowances and 31 other allowances and concessions available to the Armed Forces personnel and the revised rates at which the same are payable following the decision taken by the Government on the recommendations of the Seventh Pay Commission has been uploaded on the website of the Ministry of Defence and can be found at mod.gov.in/def/sites/default/files/Revisedrates.pdf.

As regards ration, the Seventh Pay Commission had recommended that the provision of free rations and the grant of Ration Money Allowance to officers of Defence Forces posted in peace areas should be withdrawn. The Government vide its resolution No.11-1/2016-IC dated 06 July 2017, decided that Ration Money Allowance will continue to be paid to them by direct credit to their bank accounts.

This information was given by Raksha Rajya Mantri Dr. Subhash Bhamre in a written reply to Shri Santokh Singh Chaudhary in Lok Sabha today.

The undersigned is directed to refer to this Department’s 0M or even number dated 9th August. 2016 the subject mentioned above wherein it was requested that as per the CCS (Revised pay) Rules, 2016 issued by Department or Expenditure vide Notification dated 25th July, 2016, consequential amendment in the existing Service Rules.’Rccruitment Rules shall be made by the Ministries/Departments by substituting the existing pay Band and Grade pay by the new pay “LEVEL in the PAY MATRIX” straightaway without making a reference 10 the Department of Personnel and Training Public Service Commission (UPSC).

2. Further, DoP&T vide of even number dated 16.02.2017 sought information with regard to implementation of 0M dated 09.08,2016. The issue is being monitored by higher authorities: however, so far this Department has nol received any information from Ministries/Departments even a lapse of over a year. It has been decided to hold a meeting, under the Championship or JS (E), with all Ministries/Departments on 04.01.2018 in Room No.190, North Block, New Delhi.

3. All Ministries/Departments are requested to furnish a status report regarding amendment Of Recruitment Rules in pursuance of DoP&T 0M dated 09/08/2016 in the annexure-Il enclosed herewith. The schedule or the meeting is aas per Annexure-I.

Subject : Implementation of the recommendation of the Seventh Central Pay Commission – Territorial Army Allowance.

Sir,

I am directed to say that consequent upon the acceptance of the recommendation of the Seventh Central Pay Commission and in supersession of the all existing orders issued on the subject from time to time, the President is pleased to decide that the Camp Allowance and TA Bounty applicable for Territorial Army shall be merged into a single allowances to be called Territorial Army Allowance and will be payable at the following rates:

Sl. No

Category of Employees

Amount (in Rs./annum)

1

Officers

2000

2

JCOs

1500

3

OR

1000

2. These rates shall automatically increase by 25%, each time the Dearness Allowance rises by 50%.

3. 100% of the amount of Territorial Army Allowance shall be granted for completing full training and 75% of the amount will be granted for completing more than 80% of the training.

4. These orders shall take effect from 01st July, 2017.

5. This letter issues with the concurrence of Ministry of Defence (Fin/AG/PD) vide their Dy No.410/AG/PD/2017 dated 11.09.2017